Beach safety

The sea in Blackpool can be very inviting

However warm sunny days can also be very misleading with temperatures still very cold at around 10 ºC and seldom reaching 17 ºC on a hot summer’s day. Our normal body temperature at 37 ºC.

From being washed out to sea, pulled under by a strong current or simply misjudging the conditions when they are dangerous, it’s really important to understand that:

There are many reasons why people get into difficulty

Between 400 - 600 people a year drowned in the UK with 20% of this figure around the coast

The reasons why people drown can usually be accounted for through one of the following factors

Uninformed or unrestricted access to the water hazard

Ignorance, disregard or misjudgement of danger

Lack of supervision

Inability of the casualty to cope (or to be rescued) once in difficulty

A number of control measures increasing in the level of control range from:

Safety leaflets

Public education

Information signs

Warning signs

Prohibition signs

Physical barriers

Public rescue equipment

Advanced lifesaving equipment

Trained surveillance

First aid facility

Qualified beach lifeguards (with appropriate equipment)

Being unable to cope once in difficulty can often result in involuntary submersion. Even good swimmers can find their ability severely impaired in cold and fast moving water. Under water obstructions can significantly affect someone’s ability to cope in open water.

Remedial measures include:

Education and information

Denial of access and/ or provision of warnings/information

Acquisition of rescue and survival skills

Supervision and provision of rescue equipment

Together these measures constitute a drowning prevention strategy to help control the risk